Trigger mechanism



April 16, 1957 E. HARDGRAVE 2,788,601

' I TRIGGER MECHANISM Filed Dec. 12, 1955 I 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 wig Y mINVENTOR EarZL.HZzrd9ra1/"e ATTORNEY E. L. HARDGRAVE 2,788,601

TRIGGER MECHANISM April 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 12, 1955 00 555 k 62 Z & ,z a ,u a w INVENTOR Ea rZ 1 22 rdyrc zv'e BY% K, 1. 3/

ATTORNEY TRIGGER MECHANISM Earl L. Hardgrave, Austin, Tex.

Application December 12, 1955, Serial No. 552,452

Claims. (Cl. 42-69) This invention relates to a novel trigger mechanismfor bolt action firearms, especially rifles, and has for a primaryobject to provide a trigger mechanism including .novel means whereby thetrigger may be operated with a full single stage setting where maximumcontact will be had between the parts functioning for retaining thefiring pin in a cocked position but wherein said parts are releasable toeffect a release of the firing pin either after a relatively long pullhas been exerted on the trigger or after the trigger has only beenpulled slightly, at the will of the user.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide atrigger mechanism having means which may be readily set to efiectrelease of the firing pin after only a very short pull and a lightpressure has been applied thereto so that a hair trigger operation ofthe trigger mechanism will result, or whereby the trigger mechanism maybe utilized with greater safety and so that a longer pull againstgreater resistance will be required to effect release of the firingmechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trigger mechanism ofextremely simple construction which may be readily adjusted to vary themovement of the trigger required to effect release of the firingmechanism, when said trigger mechanism is set to release upon a shortpull under light pressure of the trigger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trigger mechanism whichmay be readily adjusted to vary the pressure required to effect releaseof the firing mechanism when the trigger mechanism is set for normalrelease by a long pull exerted on the trigger.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trigger mechanismwhich will automatically resume a full single stage position, requiringa long pull of the trigger against full resistance to efiect release ofthe firing mechanism, each time that the firing mechanism is cocked, tothus provide a safety feature preventing inadvertent firing of the piecefrom a hair trigger setting.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trigger mechanism ofthe aforedescribed character of extremely simple construction which maybe very economically manufactured and sold, which will be extremelyeflicient and durable in use, and which may be readily adjusted by theuser. v

Various other objects and advantagesof the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, andwherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in side elevation, showingthe trigger mechanism mounted on a portion of the receiver of a boltaction rifle and with the trigger mechanism in a full single stageposition;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the parts of thetrigger mechanism disposed as said parts will appear immediately afterrelease of the firing mechanism;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partly in elevation,showing the trigger'mechanism with the 2 parts disposed in a setposition to be released by a slight trigger pull;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the trigger mechanism, takensubstantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, takensubstantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the upper portions ofthe trigger and trigger actuated member looking toward the sides thereofopposite to the sides of said parts as seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken along a plane as indicated bythe line 8-8 of Figure 3, and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along a plane asindicated by the lines ?--9 of Figures 1 and 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for the purpose ofillustrating a preferred application and use of the trigger mechanism,designated generally 10 and comprising the invention, a portion of thereceiver 11 of a bolt action rifle is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3,including a portion of the rifle bolt 12 having a conventional dependingsear notch 13.

The trigger mechanism 10 includes a frame 14 having spaced substantiallyparallel side walls 15 and 16 which are connected by an elongated webportion or block 17 which extends from near the forward end of the walls15 and 16 rear-wardly to a point spaced a substantial distance from therear ends of said walls, The walls 15 and 16 near to but spaced from theforward ends thereof are provided with integral upstanding portionsforming transversely aligned ears 15a and 16a, respectively, havingaligned apertures for turnably engaging the ends of a pivot pin 18, theintermediate portion of which extends through a depending ear portion11a of the receiver 11, which ear portion 11a loosely fits in a recessedupper edge portion 17a of the block or web 17. The block 17 and theinner sides of the walls 15 and 16 are recessed, forwardly of the pivot18 and the ear portion 11a, to define a socket 19, the bottom portion ofwhich extends to below the block 17 so as to be formed solely by therecesses of the walls 15 and 16 and to be slotted, for a purpose whichwill hereinafter become apparent. An expansion coiled spring 26 isdisposed in the socket 19 and has its lower end seating against thesocket bottom and its upper end bearing against the underside of thereceiver 11, forwardly of the pivot 13, for urging the frame 14 to rockclockwise about the pivot 13, as seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, so that therear end of the frame will be urged upwardly and against the undersideof the receiver 11.

A lever 21 is disposed longitudinally in the frame 14 beneath the block17 and is loosely disposed between the walls 15 and 16. The lever 21 hasan upturned forward end 21a which is pivotally connected to and disposedbetween the forward ends of the walls 15 and 16, forwardly of the block17, by a pivot pin 22 which extends through the lever end 21a andthrough the forward portions of said walls 15 and 16.

A sear 23 is turnably mounted in the upper rear part of the frame 14loosely between the walls 15 and 16, on a pivot pin 24 which issupported by said walls. The sear 23 is shown in its normal position inFigures 1 and 3, and when thus disposed has an upwardly extending searnose 25 which faces rearwardly to engage the forward face 13a of the sear notch 13, to retain the firing der 26 at the rear thereof whichengages againsta fastening element 27, which extends between and issecured to the walls 15 and 16, to prevent the sear from turningclockwise beyond its position of Figures-l and 3. Forwardly of the pivot24, the sear 23 is provided with a con- ,cavely mounted downwardly andrearwardly opening notch 28 and a downwardly facing shoulder or surface29, which is disposed forwardly of the notch 28 and which extends to theforwardmost extremity of the sear 23.

A trigger, designated generally 30, has an upper portion which extendsupwardly into the frame 14, loosely between the walls 15 and 16. Saidupper portion of the trigger 30 is defined by laterally spaced arms 31and 32. The trigger 30 is swingably connected to the frame 14 by a pivotpin 33 which extends through said arms 31 and 32 and which is supportedby the walls 15 and 16. The pivot 33 is disposed near the bottom edge ofthe frame 14, almost directly beneath the forward end of the searshoulder 29, as best seen in Figure 3. The lower end 34 of the trigger30 forms a curved finger engaging portion of conventional configuration,as seen in Figures 1 and 2. The trigger 30 also includes a rearwardlyextending portion 35 which is disposed above the finger engaging portion34 and beneath and adjacent an upwardly and rearwardly inclined rearbottom edge portion 14a of the frame 14. Said trigger portion 35 isprovided with an upwardly opening socket 36, as best seen in Figure 3.

A screw 37 extends threadedly through the bottom portion of the triggerpart 35 into the lower end of the socket 36 and has a head 37a looselydisposed in the bottom part of said socket for movement lengthwisethereof when the screw 37 is turned. A jamb nut 37b threadedly engagesthe lower portion of the screw 37 and abuts the underside of the triggerportion 35 to retain the screw 37 in different adjusted positions. Thescrew head 3711 provldes an adjustable seat or perch for the lower endof an expansion coiled spring 38 which constitutes a main spring andwhich extends upwardly from the socket 36' and has an upper end seatingin a downwardly and rearwardly opening cup member 39 which is retainedby said spring 38 in recessed portions 39a of the walls 15 and 16.

The lower portion of a spring 40, which is smaller and weaker thanspring 38, is disposed within said spring and has its lower end bearingon the seat 37a. The spring 40 extends upwardly through a centralopening 3% of the cup member 39. A rod 41 is loosely disposed in theupper portion of the spring 40 and extends downwardly through theopening 39b. The rod 41 has a crosshead 41a at its upper end againstwhich the upper end of the spring 40 bears and which is retained therebyseated in the sear notch 28.

A trigger actuated member, designated generally 42, has a rear portionwhich extends upwardly into the frame 14 loosely between the triggerarms 31 and 32 and through which the trigger pivot 33 loosely extendsfor swingably mounting said member 42. The upper portion of the member42, which extends upwardly from the pivot 33 constitutes a pawl 43 theupper end of which, designated 43a, is widened to form an upwardlyfacing sear shoulder engaging face or surface which engages under thesear shoulder 29. The trigger arm 31 terminates substantially below thelevel of said upper pawl portion 43a and has an upper edge 31:: which isinclined downwardly and forwardly. Said trigger arm 31 is disposedbetween a portion of the trigger actuated member 42 and the frame wall16, and said pawl 43, above the trigger 'cludes a portion 44, forming anextension of the lower "end of the pawl 43, which extendsdownwardly'from the -pivot 33 and outwardly from the bottom of the frame14. "The member 42am includes an arm 45, constituting the lower partthereof, which extends forwardly from the lower end of the portion 44and which is disposed below a portion of the open bottom of the frame14. Said arm 45 terminates at its forward end in an upturned terminalportion 45a which is normally disposed adjacent the level of a portionof the bottom of the frame 14, as seen in Figure 3, and in alignmentwith the slot or space formed by the gap between the walls 15 and 16, asseen in Figure 4.

A latching dog 46 fits loosely in the frame 14 between the block or web17 and the trigger arms 31 and 32 and the pawl 43. Said latching dog 46is disposed in substantially an upright position and is swingablymounted on a pivot pin 47 which extends through the intermediate portionthereof and which is supported by the walls 15 and 16. The forward edgeof the latching dog 46 is recessed to provide a forwardly extendingupwardly facing shoulder 4601, which is disposed below the level of thepivot 47, and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined cam surface 46b whichextends downwardly and rearwardly from the outer, forward end of saidshoulder 46a. The upper portion of latch dog 46 is provided with athreaded bore 460 which extends forwardly and rearwardly therethrough toreceive a setscrew 48 which is adjustably mounted therein and the rearend of which is adapted to engage a transversely enlarged upper endportion 32a of the trigger arm 32 Which is disposed for wardly of andextends to above the upper end 43a of the pawl 43. The latch dog 46 isslotted above its bore 460, as seen at 46d, and the setscrew 48 is sizedso that the .bore 460 is expanded slightly by said setscrew and thus hasa sufficient clamping engagement therewith to retain the setscrew indifferent adjusted positions. The block .or web 17 has a rearwardlyopening socket 17b in which is seated one end of an expansion coiledspring 49. The other end of the spring 49 bears against the forward edgeof the latch dog 46, above the pivot 47, to urge said latch dog to swingclockwise, as seen in Figures 1 to 3.

The trigger portion 35 is provided with a forwardly opening socket 35ato receive and seat the rear end of an expansion coiled spring 50,forming an abutment means, the forward end of which bears against therear edge of part 44, below the pivot 33, for urging said triggeractuated member 42 to swing clockwise on the pivot 33 and relative tothe trigger 30.

A lever actuator 51 is suspended below the frame 14 and forwardly of thetrigger 30 by a pair of laterally spaced hanger arms 52 thereof, upperportions of which are swingably mounted against the inner sides of thewalls 15 and 16 on a pivot pin 53 which extends loosely therethrough andis supported by said walls. The lower end of the latch dog 46 isswingably disposed between the upper portions of said hangers 52, abovethe pivot 53, as best seen in Figure 3. The body portion 54 of the leveractuator 51, to which the lower ends of the hangers 52 are fixed, has adepending portion 54a at the rear end thereof terminating at its lowerend in an enlargement having a knurled under surface and forming a thumbengaging button 54b. Said actuator 51 includes an arm 55 which extendsfrom the forward end of the body portion 54 and which is curved upwardlyso as to normally terminate beneath and adjacent a portion of the.bottom edge of the frame 14 and which is disposed in the same verticalplane as the lever 21. A second arm 56 extendsupwardly from the forwardpart of the body portion 54 and is laterally offset outwardly withrespect to one side thereof, as best seen in Figure 4, so that theupperportion of the arm 56 is correctly positioned to extend into the lowerend of a downwardly opening socket 57 in which is seated an expansioncoiled spring 58, the lower end of which bears on the upper end of saidarm 56, for urging the actuator 51 to swing counterclockwise orrearwardly about 'its pivot 53, as seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Theactuator body 54 is also provided with an extension 59 which extendsupwardly from the rear portion thereof and from the same side thereof asthe arm 56 and which has an out-turned upper end 59a which is disposedbeneath a portion of the bottom edge of the wall 15 and which is adaptedto engage said bottom edge of the wall to limit swinging movement of theactuator 51counterclockwise under the biasing action of the spring 58.

A spring strip 60 has a forward end secured by a fastening 60a to aportion of the bottom edge of the wall 16, as best seen in Figures 5 and6. Said spring strip 60 is bent so that the rear portion thereof isspaced from a contiguous part of the bottom edge of the wall 16. Saidrear portion 61 is apertured to turnably receive an adjusting screw 62and is flanged to rigidify the end 61 of the spring strip 60. The screw62 threadedly engages a bore 62a which opens downwardly from the bottomedge of the wall 16. Said end 61 is provided with a laterallyextendinglip 63, as best seen in Figure 5, which extends inwardly so as to be inthe path of forward swinging movement of a portion of the trigger 30, tolimit the extent that the lower portion of the trigger 30 can swingforwardly. It will be apparent that the screw 62 may be adjusted in thebore 62a for moving the lip 63 upwardly and downwardly, thus adjustingthe limit of forward swinging movement of the lower portion of thetrigger 30, since the forward edge portion 64 of said trigger, whichengages the lip or stop 63, is inclined downwardly and rearwardly, asseen in Figures 3 and 6.

Figure 1 shows the trigger mechanism in a full stage operative positionwith the sear 23 held in a raised position by engagement of its shoulder29 on the pawl end 43a and so that the rearwardly facing surface of thesear nose 25 is disposed against the forward face 13a of the sear notch13 to retain the piece in a cooked position. As seen in Figure 1, thepawl surface 43a has a full contact with the'sear shoulder 29. Byexerting a rearward pull on the finger portion 34 of the trigger 30,said trigger will be rocked counterclockwise as seen in Figure 1 aboutits pivot 33 against the resistance of. the spring 38. This will causethe portions of the trigger arms 31 and 32 which are located above thepivot 33' to swing from right to left or forwardly. Forward movement ofthe upper portion of the trigger arm 31 will cause the face 31a thereofto swing forwardly toward and into engagement with the shoulder 43b,whereafter the pawl 43 will move forwardly with the surface 31a todisplace the upper surface 43a of the pawl out of engagement beneath theshoulder 29 so that the sear 23 will be turned clockwise by the forwardthrust on the sear notch 13 which is provided by the firing mechanism ofwhich said sear notch forms a part, to swing the sear from its positionof Figure l to its position of Figure 2. The parts 31a and 43b thus formcoacting portions. Release of the firing mechanism is thus effected. Itwill be apparent that a substantial rearward movement effected by a longpull of the finger piece 34 will be required to thus efiect release ofthe sear 23. It will also be understood that the screw 37 can be adjusted for adjusting the tension on the spring 33 to vary the weight ofthe trigger pull. After the sear has moved to its position of Figure 2,the spring 40 will return the sear to its position of Figure l and uponre-cocking of the firing mechanism the sear notch 13 by contact with therounded forward side of the sear nose 25 will cause the frame 14,carrying the trigger mechanism, to rock clockwise about its pivot 18 sothat the sear nose 13 can resume its position of Figure 1, after whichthe spring 20 will return the trigger mechanism to its position ofFigures 1, 2 and 3. It will also be understood that when the sear 23 isinitially returned to its position of Figure 1 by the spring 40, thatthe spring 50 will then cause the 6 the sear-'23. To accomplish this,the button 54b is as gaged to swing the lever actuator 51 forwardly orclock wise about its pivot 53 from its position of Figure 1 .to' itsposition of Figure 3. In so moving, the upper end of the arm 55 willcontact the underside of the lever 21 to swing said lever upwardly aboutits pivot 22. The free end of the lever 21 in swinging upwardly willstrike the cam surface 46b to swing the latch dog 46 counterclockwise onits pivot 47 until the lever 21 clears the cam surface 46b and moves toabove the shoulder 46a, whereupon the spring 49 will rock the latch dog46 clockwise to its position of Figure 3 with the shoulder-46a engagingunder the free end of the lever 21 to retain said lever in a raised,latched position. When the lever is thus disposed, a portion thereof islocated in the lower portion of the socket 19 so that the lower end of.the spring 20 then seats against said lever portion rather than againstthe socket bottom. Pressure is then released from the button 54b andexpansion of the spring 58 acting on the arm 56 will swing the actuator51 rearwardly or counterclockwise back to its position of Figure 1 with.the part 59a thereof abutting the bottom edge of the wall 15. A slightrearward pull on the finger piece 34 will cause the trigger arm portion32a which is in engagement with the screw 48 or in close proximitythereto, to exert a forward thrust on said screw to rock the latchingdog 46 counterclockwise about its pivot 47, as seen in Figure 3, toswing the shoulder 46a out of engagement with the free end of the lever21. When this occurs, the lever 21 will be forcibly swung downwardly byexpansion of the spring 26 so that a part of the bottom edge thereofwill strike the end 45a of the member 42 to rock said membercounterclockwise for disengaging the upper end 43a thereof from the searshoulder 29, whereupon the sear will be released to swingcounterclockwise, as previonsly described.

It will be apparent that the weight of the trigg r pull may beaccurately adjusted as previously described by adjustment of the screw37. The length of the trigger pull for releasing the sear throughengagement of the surfaces 31a and 43b may be varied by adjusting thescrew 52, as previously described, and the extent of travel of thetrigger to efiect release of the sear by ac tuating the latch dog 46 maybe varied by adjusting the setscrew 48 in the bore 466.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that a trigger mechanismof extremely simple construction has been provided which may be readilyadjusted by the user for operation from a full stage or from a hairtrigger setting. It will also be apparent that after each release of thesear the trigger mechanism will be returned to a full stage position asillustrated in Figure 1 automatically, thus requiring a separate manualoperation to again effect a hair trigger setting.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously beresorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A trigger mechanism comprising a frame, a seat pivoted to said frameand having a shoulder spaced from the sear pivot, a trigger pivoted tothe frame, a trigger actuated member pivoted to the frame and having asear engaging portion spaced from the pivot thereof and engaging thesear shoulder for holding the sear in an operative firing mechanismcocking position, abutment means interposed between portions of thetrigger actuated member and trigger and on the side of the pivot of saidtrigger actuated member which is disposed remote from the sear, a mainspring engaging against the trigger and frame and urging the trigger toswing in a direction to exert a pressure against said trigger actuatedmember through said abutment means for moving said sear engaging portionof the trigger actuated member into full engagement with the searshoulder, and said trigger and trigger 'actuated member'having coactingportions disposed between the pivots thereof and said sear, saidlastmentioned portion of the trigger being movable into engagement withthe last mentioned portion of the triggcr actuated member when saidtrigger is swung about th'epivot thereof in the opposite directionagainst the action of said main spring for rocking the trigger actuatedmember with the trigger for swinging said sear engaging portion out ofengagement with the sear shoulder.

: 2. A trigger mechanism as in claim 1, said abutment means comprisingan expansion spring for urging said trigger actuated member to swingabout the pivot thereof in a direction to swing said sear engagingportion toward the scar and into a position to engage the sear shoulder.

'3. A trigger mechanism'as in claim 1, said trigger and trigger actuatedmember pivoting about a common axis constituting the pivots thereof.

4. A trigger mechanism as in claim 1, said trigger having a slottedportion in which a part of said trigger actuated member including thepart engaged by the pivot thereof is swingably disposed.

-S. A trigger mechanism as in claim 1, a lever piv- 'otally connected atone end thereofto said frame and extending from the pivot thereof towardsaid trigger actuated member, a latching dog pivotally mounted in theframe and having a portion engaging under said lever in a set positionof the lever, spring means engaging the latching dog and a part of theframe for retaining said latching dog portion in engagement with saidlever, said trigger having a latching dog actuating part, means carriedby said latching dog and engaged by said latching dog actuating part,when the trigger is swung in a direction to move said sear engaging partout of engagement with the sear, for rocking said latching dog torelease said lever before said coacting portions of the trigger andtrigger actuated member make contact with one another, said triggeractuated member having a portion disposed in the path of swingingmovement of said lever when released by the latching dog, and springmeans disposed in said frame and engaging the lever 8 for forciblyswinging the lever into "engagement with said last mentioned part of thetrigger actuated member for disengaging the sear engaging portionthereof from the sear.

6. A trigger mechanism as in claim 5, a firearm receiver portion, meanspivotally mounting said frame on the firearm receiver portion, a boltslidably mounted in the receiver and having a defending sear notch, saidlast mentioned spring means bearing against the receiver portion forrocking the frame in a direction to swing said sear upwardly into a searnotch engaging position, said sear being engaged by the sear notch forrocking the frame about the pivot thereof against the action of saidlast mentioned spring means to permit movement of the sear notch pastthe scar and toward a cocked position.

7, A trigger mechanism as in claim 6, a manually operated lever actuatorswingably connected to and depending from said frame and having aportion disposed to engage and swing the lever to a set position inengagement with the latching dog when said lever actuator is swung inone direction.

8. A trigger mechanism as in claim 7, spring means mounted in said frameand engaging another portion of the lever actuator for swinging saidlever actuator away from the lever.

9. A trigger mechanism as in claim 8, said means carried by the latchingdog being adjustable relative to the latching dog in directions towardand away from said latching dog actuating part of the trigger forvarying the extent of swinging movement of the trigger required to swingthe latching dog to a released position.

10. A trigger mechanism as in claim 1, and manually adjustable meansconnected to said frame and engaged by the trigger 'to' vary the extentof swinging movement of the trigger under the biasing action of saidmain spring and the distance of swinging movement of the triggerrequired to effect release of the sear.

No references cited.

